Teams picking at the top of the 2012 draft privately lament their options. There isn't an obvious choice like Stephen Strasburg in 2009 or Bryce Harper in 2010, and there isn't an embarrassment of riches like there was a year ago. The new draft rules could add to the volatility of the first round. Nevertheless, here's our first run at how the first round will go on June 4.

As draft day dawned, one thing was certain: The Pirates will take UCLA righthander Gerrit Cole with the No. 1 overall selection. After that, teams were still scrambling to line up their picks. The consensus is the Mariners will choose Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon with the No. 2 pick. The Diamondbacks had appeared locked in on Virginia lefthander Danny Hultzen at No. 3, and the Orioles had zeroed in on Oklahoma high school righthander Dylan Bundy, though now those teams seem headed in different directions. It no longer looks like the consensus six players in the draft (the aforementioned four plus UCLA righthander Trevor Bauer and Kansas high school outfielder Bubba Starling) will go in the top six.

Our third first-round projection for the 2011 draft, in list form. We predict the Pirates will selected Virginia lefthander Danny Hultzen first overall, followed by Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon going to the Mariners.

Our third projection of the first round of the 2011 draft, complete with analysis. The Pirates takes Virginia lefthander Danny Hultzen at No. 1, followed by Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon going to the Mariners

For the first time in three years, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft isn't obvious weeks in advance. In 2009, the Nationals immediately locked in on Stephen Strasburg, the best pitching prospect in draft history. Washington had the top choice again last year and targeted Bryce Harper and his jaw-dropping power well before June. But that doesn't keep us from rolling out our first Mock Draft of the draft season.

It's the morning of the draft, and we don't know for certain anything more than we knew heading into the weekend. JC of Southern Nevada catcher Bryce Harper will go No. 1 overall to the Nationals. The next two best prospects—Texas high school righthander Jameson Taillon and Florida prep shortstop Manny Machado—will be the next two picks, in either order, to the Pirates and Orioles. After the big three, there's little agreement on how to stack up the remaining talent.

In terms of the big picture, not much has changed since our first mock draft Premium ran two weeks ago. CC of Southern Nevada catcher Bryce Harper is still considered a lock to go No. 1 overall to the Nationals, and righthander Jameson Taillon and shortstop Manny Machado remain the cream of the high school crop. After that, uncertainty reigns.

The Nationals hold the No. 1 overall pick for the second straight year. And while there is not as much certainty as there was in 2009, when Washington was locked in on Stephen Strasburg, other teams fully expect the Nationals to make JC of Southern Nevada catcher Bryce Harper the first junior college player ever taken with the first choice.

When team officials head to bed the night before the draft, they usually have a pretty good idea of who they're going to take in the first round. They may not know exactly who's going to fall to them, but they at least have a feel for how different scenarios may play out. Not this year. The draft moves to prime time tonight, with the first pick expected to be announced on MLB Network at about 6:15 p.m. Clubs can spend most of the day working on their choices, and they're going to need the extra time.<br/>

The Devil Rays will make Vanderbilt lefthander David Price the No. 1 overall selection in the 2007 draft, which begins today at 2 p.m. Eastern. That's no surprise, as other clubs have said for weeks that they would have been surprised if Tampa Bay had gone in a different direction. As scouting directors headed to bed for a few hours of sleep Thursday morning, here's how the first round projected to shake out.